Bali is a province in the country of Indonesia. Located near the equator just 3 km east of Java, it measures about 90 km north to south and less than 150 km east to west. It is a tropical paradise with wide sandy beaches lining its shores. Inland, the terrain is rugged in the east with soaring volcanoes, and gentle sloping hills in the west. Coral reefs circle the island. There are picturesque rice terraces, vegetable gardens, and flowers everywhere which makes it a favourite holiday spot for Australians in particular – many of whom can fly to Bali in just a few hours.
It is believed that Bali was first populated in about 2000 BC by migrants from Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries. Early Balinese culture was highly influenced by the Chinese and Indians. The first colonisation of Bali was by Java in the 14th century, followed by the Dutch in the 16th century. By the mid-nineteenth century the Dutch had acquired administrative control of Bali after a series of military actions. The Japanese expelled the Dutch during World War II, but in 1945 Indonesia declared independence. In 1963, thousands were killed when Mount Agung, the highest point on the island and an active volcano, erupted.
The volcanic nature of the island makes Bali extremely fertile. For most of its history the main economic activity was agriculture. A complex system of irrigation, known as subak and established in the first century AD, is still in place today. Farmers mostly grow rice, but other crops include fruits, vegetables, tea and coffee. In the early 20th century, tourism became the leading industry of Bali. Recent terrorist activity in 2002 and 2005 hurt the tourist industry, but it has slowly been recovering. Another industry that flourishes in Bali is the production of handicrafts such as wood and stone carvings and batik cloth.
The Balinese people are known for their friendly and gracious demeanor. The population of Bali is over 3 million, most of whom live in small communal villages. The dominant religion is Balinese Hinduism, which differs significantly from the Indian Hindu religion, and has elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, magic and the power of spirits. Every village has several temples, and almost every home has a shrine to one or more deities. Festivals are popular occasions to honour the gods, and good opportunities for visitors to witness traditional music, dance and other religious customs.
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